By Tia Cristy
Marnie Schneider is a multifaceted professional who has made a name for herself as an author, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and public speaker. Her deep connection to football and the legacy of her family, particularly her grandfather Leonard Tose, the former owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, has shaped much of her life and career. Marnie’s work is a testament to her passion for sports, education, and giving back to the community—values that were instilled in her from a young age.
Football was a family business growing up in Philadelphia. Her grandfather was the owner of the Eagles. Her mother, Susan, held several prestigious titles within the organization, including Vice President, legal counsel, and General Manager, being the only female in the NFL to accomplish such a feat. (Nonetheless, historically, there are currently two female presidents in the NFL today: Sandra Douglass Morgan of the Raiders and Kristi Coleman of the Panthers.) As a child, Marnie had a vital role as well. She was her grandfather’s number one fan.
“He was the greatest,” she says with admiration.
She points behind her to a Philadelphia Eagles tracksuit encased in a glass frame. The suit was once proudly worn by Leonard Tose. Tose regularly wore that specific suit, Marnie recalls.
It sets the perfect scene for Marnie to reminisce about her travels for games when she was little.
“My mom always tried to keep me grounded. She didn’t make everything comfortable, and I’m so grateful for that,” she says with the utmost gratitude. “The nights were long and cold, and I was bored and hungry,” she rattles off the memory. “But I am so grateful to her for that! … I believe kids can’t have it all given to them at that age. They need to learn appreciation. Kids today don’t get to feel bored, really … all the gadgets and phones. They need to feel bored. It’s a natural part of life to spark creativity, … and traveling to games was boring!” she emphasizes. “It wasn’t private planes and caviar; I don’t even like caviar. Although they (the adults) might have been doing that, I’m not really sure. I was always in the back of the plane,” she says with a chuckle, realizing her metaphor might be a little more literal for her mother and grandfather.
As she goes through a memory of her little travel backpack, full of cassette tapes and a candy bar, I can picture it vividly.
“When your Walkman died, it was the worst!” she exaggerates the word. “Nobody was carrying batteries. And when that little foam piece that covered the headphone would wear thin, and metal was poking in your ear when trying to sleep, ugh!”
Growing up as the granddaughter of Leonard Tose, Marnie had a very unique upbringing closely tied to the world of professional football and all the sides of the spectrum it had to offer. Her beloved grandfather, Leonard Tose, owned the Philadelphia Eagles from 1969 to 1985, and during that time, he became one of the most influential and colorful owners in NFL history. Tose was known for his flamboyant personality, love for the game, and his abundant generosity, particularly in the Philadelphia community.
Time to fly eagle’s coop
Under Tose’s ownership, the Eagles eventually reached their first big game at Super Bowl XV in 1981. Needless to say, it was a significant moment in the team’s history, but also in Marnie’s family history. When some family financial troubles led to the sale of the team in 1985, it was getting to that 1981 championship game that somewhat increased the value of the Birds. And even though the family sold the team, Marnie still remains a fan of her original hometown team. Perhaps it’s childhood nostalgia or because of Tose’s impact on the Eagles and the city of Philadelphia, which remains profound to this day. For a town famous for throwing snowballs at Santa and greasing the light poles before big games so fans can’t climb them, there is something special to say about Philadelphia loyalty in the city of brotherly love.
Marnie’s experiences growing up around the Eagles, attending games, and interacting with players and coaches gave her a deep appreciation for football and its influential impact on communities.
Throughout our conversation, she often speaks fondly of her grandfather, describing him as a larger-than-life figure who cared deeply for his team and the people around him.
“He was just incredible,” she says from the deepest part of her soul, and I believe her.
This close relationship with her grandfather not only gave Marnie a unique perspective on the world of professional sports but also inspired her to carry on his legacy of community service and philanthropy.
Although Marnie had already lived more life by high school graduation than most do in a lifetime, she made the decision to continue her education and attend Penn State University, which has also continued to have a pretty impressive football team for the last several decades. Upon graduating, Marnie went on to work at NFL Films, founded by Ed Sabol.
NFL Films is the home of all football footage ever captured. I had the honor of visiting the studio, located across the bridge from Philadelphia in the Garden State, better known as New Jersey. The huge building contains several studios for sportscasting, including Greg Cosell’s hit show, Monday Night Match Up. The walls and halls are adorned with football greats’ memorabilia. And somewhere in the complex holds the complete library of football footage from all 32 teams.
After her stint with NFL Films, Marnie moved to Los Angeles in a quest to make it on her own, without the family name following her.
“I wanted to figure out if I could survive without anyone knowing me,” she admits. “People in L.A. didn’t care about the NFL back then. If I said I worked at NFL Films, they’d be like, ‘Who cares?’.”
Marnie got a job in a mailroom and learned how to make her own way in the world. She stayed in L.A. for quite some time, got married, had three wonderful children, got divorced, and did life to the fullest while there. However, that wasn’t where this football queen’s story ends.
In 2016, Marnie’s mother was in the beginning stages of dementia. During one conversation, her mother asked Marnie if she remembered the stories she used to write long ago.
“I was like, yeah, I remember. Whatever! They were terrible!” she laughs. “But my mom said, I think we should do something with them. So, I found my notes, took them to my publisher, and asked if they were interested. They said, actually, ‘Yes’.”
Marnie asked her three school-aged children if they were willing to go on an adventure.
“I told them if they hated it, we could come back, but I needed to find a place to do this. So, we left California, and we moved to North Carolina. I say we did the reverse Beverly Hillbillies. We left L.A. and moved to the Carolinas.”
She admits it was basically starting her writing business in the garage.
Today, one of Marnie Schneider’s most notable accomplishments is her work as an author. She created the “Football Freddie and Fumble the Dog” children’s book series, which is designed to educate young readers about football, the cities that host NFL teams, and the importance of teamwork, family, and sportsmanship. The series follows the adventures of Freddie, a young girl, and her dog Fumble as they travel across America, visiting different NFL cities and learning about their landmarks, history, and culture before heading to the football game.
Marnie loves to add great nuggets and learning lessons into each of the books. For example, Game Day in Pittsburgh features an autistic friend, while Game Day in Kansas City discusses peanut allergies.
“In 2023, I met Letha Atwater, the wife of Hall of Famer Steve Atwater from the Broncos. I teamed up with Letha to write Game Day in Denver. She’s a psychologist, so we were able to add some really interesting things, like Rookie, the emotional support dog. And we added in a great mental wellness piece,” she says.
Each book in the series highlights a different city, combining football knowledge with an educational focus on geography and local history. Marnie’s goal with these books is to make learning fun and accessible again for children while instilling important values like teamwork, resilience, and curiosity. The series has become popular among families and football fans alike, and it can’t help but reflect Marnie’s killer combo: deep passion for sports and education.
“My books are approved curriculum in schools,” she says proudly. “We need to get kids excited about reading again. Kids are not reading today.”
Today ten NFL team books are complete with 22 left to go. Then, she plans to move on to write about other sports.
“We’ll hit all the other leagues, and then, golf… maybe tennis,” she shares proudly.
Entepreneur and founder of “Game Day in the USA”
In addition to her work as an author, Marnie is the founder of “Game Day in the USA,” an organization that focuses on promoting the values of sportsmanship, education, and giving back to local communities. The organization is built around the idea that sports can be a powerful tool for bringing people together, teaching important life lessons, and fostering community spirit. Through Game Day in the USA, Marnie works with schools, youth organizations, and community groups to provide resources and programs that encourage children to stay active, learn, and develop good sportsmanship.
“It’s a great way to bring families together again,” she says. “Take the kids to a game or go play catch or something. But stay active with family.”
Stemming from a woman who believes reading is fun and fundamental, as well as a necessity, this organization also places a strong emphasis on the fun side of education, providing children with opportunities to learn about different cities, cultures, and history through the lens of sports. Marnie’s goal is to help young people develop a love for learning and a sense of pride in their communities, while also teaching them the importance of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance.
Philanthropy and Charitable Work
Marnie Schneider’s commitment to philanthropy is deeply rooted in her family’s history. It can’t be said enough that her grandfather, Leonard Tose, was known for his incredible generosity, particularly toward charitable causes. He was instrumental in the founding of many different nonprofits like Eagles Fly for Leukemia, which is a charity that has raised millions of dollars for pediatric cancer research and treatment.
Inspired by her grandfather’s philanthropic spirit, Marnie has continued to be involved in charitable work throughout her life. Even as we talked, she informed me that she was coming to Philadelphia within days of our interview for a charity event with the Ronald McDonald House.
“He was a huge part of the start of the Ronald McDonald House,” she says proudly. “I still do a lot with them.”
The first Ronald McDonald House opened in 1974 within the city limits of Philadelphia. It was started by Dr. Audrey Evans, with help from Tose, his Philadelphia Eagles, and the ever-popular fast-food chain McDonald’s. The purpose of the House was to give families a place to stay while their kids were in the hospital. And like all brilliant ideas, now, Marnie is happy to say that there are Ronald McDonald Houses all over the world, helping families stay close to their children during treatment.
If you haven’t guessed by now, Marnie is a strong advocate for causes related to education, children’s literacy, and sports-related youth development. Through her books, her work with Game Day in the USA, and her involvement in various charitable initiatives, Marnie is making a lasting impact on the lives of many young people. Her work emphasizes the importance of “giving back,” a value she credits to her grandfather’s influence.
Public Speaking and Advocacy
Marnie is also a sought-after public speaker, known for her engaging and inspiring talks about leadership, sports, and community service. She frequently speaks to audiences about the lessons she has learned from her grandfather and her experiences growing up in the world of professional football. Marnie’s speeches often focus on the importance of resilience, hard work, and staying true to one’s values, no matter the challenges. It’s all about heart.
And with an incredible, amazing heart herself, she continues to recognize the importance of the game and the hope and community it can bring to all ages.
She tells me a story of when she was invited to visit the Eagles’ training facility a few years ago. Her driver from the car service was so thrilled to be dropping her off at the complex that Marnie invited him in for a tour.
“I will never forget Gary. He was so endearing! And I love this story … they offered us Gatorade, and Gary hugged the bottle and said, ‘I’m never touching this bottle. I’m going to save it and treasure it forever!” she laughs. “I said, Gary, it’s ok. Take two. Drink one and then save one,” she smiles brightly. “It wasn’t like there was anything special about this bottle. It was just regular Gatorade bottles lined up, but it was special to Gary.”
As we both laugh at the sweet story of an adoring fan, we agree it’s so cool to be a fan. It’s fun to watch sportsgoers ‘geek out’ when they meet an athlete who inspires hope and allows fans to live vicariously through them.
In addition to speaking about leadership and personal growth, Marnie is an advocate for women in sports. She is passionate about encouraging young girls to get involved in sports and pursue leadership roles, both on and off the field. Her advocacy work extends to promoting diversity and inclusion in sports, education, and business.
A Fabulous Path Forward
While Marnie Schneider’s life has been shaped by her family’s legacy in the NFL, she has also forged her own path. Her work as a fabulous author, entrepreneur, and philanthropist reflects her desire to use her platform to make a positive impact on the world. By combining her love of football with her passion for education and community service, Marnie has created a body of work that resonates with people of all ages. Football Freddie and Fumble are preparing to travel to the other cities soon. And, of course, there are more kids each day that are ready to be inspired to learn through the power of sports.
Two Philly Girls Unite
Marnie and I had the opportunity to have lunch while she was in Philadelphia for the Ronald McDonald House charity event. We walked the streets of Center City before she and her now young-adult son, Jonathan, took me for my first falafel experience at a restaurant with the same name as her daughter.
“I can’t believe this is your first falafel ever,” she says, shocked. “We’ll just get the meal so you can experience it. You’ll like it,” she sounds so assuring.
I trust her immediately, and I’m glad I did, especially when I see the heat of the ‘special’ sauce taking over Jonathan’s face by the time he makes it halfway through his sandwich. Honestly, there wouldn’t have been enough mint lemonade in the building to quench that spiciness for me.
We shared wonderful conversations and stories about their adventures. Marnie also shared that Jonathan is a childhood cancer survivor. His humble smile is sweet as his eyes show love and appreciation toward his mom for all that she has endured. Their bond is endearing as she speaks of the incredible miracle and medical marvel he is. The love she has for her kids is most evident as she tells me more about them. Her face lights up each time she mentions her children.
As we each take a last bite from our falafel platter, we joke about feeling sad that our time together is coming to a close, but in full transparency, I was a bit sad the afternoon went by so quickly.
I immensely treasured the time I spent with them.
Upon returning to her hotel, and before we parted ways, the doorman took a picture of us as her son and I showed off the two Football Freddie and Fumble Game Day books she brought for me.
I am delighted to announce that I have read both Denver and Dallas, and I look forward to reading many more. I also put in my request to join her for the research on Game Day in New Orleans with the Saints. Fingers crossed!
Through her books, her organization, and her philanthropic efforts, Marnie continues to inspire others to learn, grow, and give back, all while keeping her grandfather’s legacy alive. Whether through teaching children about football and geography or promoting the values of teamwork and sportsmanship, Marnie Schneider has carved out a unique and meaningful place for herself, both in the world of sports and beyond. I’m confident Leonard Tose is looking over his remarkable granddaughter with such pride, witnessing the generous woman she has become to the world, all while keeping his legacy alive.
